Jai Sharma is a fictional character from the British ITV soap opera,
Emmerdale, played by Chris Bisson. He made his first on-screen
appearance on 11 September 2009, alongside his brother Nikhil (Rik
Makarem). In 2013, Bisson temporarily departed Emmerdale on 24 January
because of the birth of his child and returned at the end of March
that year.During his time on the show, Jai formed the "Sharma & Sharma
factory" alongside Nikhil and their father Rishi (Bhasker Patel);
closely interacted with his estranged mother Georgia Sharma (Trudie
Goodwin); developed a close friendship with local businessman Declan
Macey (Jason Merrells) that lasts until it transpires that Jai is the
father of Declan's supposed daughter, Mia (Sapphire Elia), following
her death in a road collision; embarked on a
relationship-turned-marriage with wayward "tart with a heart" Charity
Tate (Emma Atkins); became enemies with Charity's cousin and ex-lover
Cain Dingle (Jeff Hordley) over his attempts to destroy their
relationship and bonding with Jai's sister Priya (Fiona Wade); engaged
in a one-night stand with Pyria's friend Rachel Breckle (Gemma Oaten)
that results in her conceiving their beloved son, Archie, and his
marriage with Charity ending; kidnapping Charity after she took
revenge for his one-night stand by framing Rachel for setting fire to
Declan's house, "Home Farm", in order for her to abscond the country
with Archie so that Jai would never see his son again; reclaim his son
Archie until Rachel returns to reveal that she had him all along and
that the child Jai had was never Archie; married Declan's sister Megan
(Gaynor Faye) over their mutual animosity towards Charity; sparked an
affair with Megan's business partner Leyla Harding (Roxy Shahidi) that
results in Megan betraying Jai in his custody battle with Rachel over
Archie; repeatedly clashed with Cain's brother and Rachel's boyfriend
Sam (James Hooton); exhibited a cocaine addiction until he eventually
reconciles with Megan after she gives birth to their daughter Eliza;
befriended Cain's stepdaughter Holly Barton (Sophie Powles) about his
cocaine addiction and later feeling guilty when she later dies of an
overdose; and romanced with Holly's apparent best-friend, Neil Fairfax
(Scarlett Archer), who soon turns out to be an con-artistic drug
addict.On 21 July 2009, entertainment website Digital Spy reported
that Emmerdale would be introducing "a new trio of entrepreneurial
siblings", Jai, Nikhil and Priya Sharma as part of the soap's ongoing
reinvention. Former Coronation Street actor Chris Bisson was cast as
Jai Sharma, along with Rik Makarem and Effie Woods who were cast in
the roles of Nikhil and Priya Sharma respectively. Of his casting
Bisson commented: "Jai is a bit of a charmer and has an eye for the
ladies but he's also a hard worker with a good business mind. I'm
delighted to be joining Emmerdale at a time when the show is going
from strength to strength. I can't wait to get started." The show's
series producer Gavin Blyth said of the family: "The Sharmas are a
young, contemporary family independent of their parents and will bring
the factory into the heart of the village community. They will add
real vitality to life in Emmerdale." Bisson began filming his scenes
on 21 July.
Emmerdale, played by Chris Bisson. He made his first on-screen
appearance on 11 September 2009, alongside his brother Nikhil (Rik
Makarem). In 2013, Bisson temporarily departed Emmerdale on 24 January
because of the birth of his child and returned at the end of March
that year.During his time on the show, Jai formed the "Sharma & Sharma
factory" alongside Nikhil and their father Rishi (Bhasker Patel);
closely interacted with his estranged mother Georgia Sharma (Trudie
Goodwin); developed a close friendship with local businessman Declan
Macey (Jason Merrells) that lasts until it transpires that Jai is the
father of Declan's supposed daughter, Mia (Sapphire Elia), following
her death in a road collision; embarked on a
relationship-turned-marriage with wayward "tart with a heart" Charity
Tate (Emma Atkins); became enemies with Charity's cousin and ex-lover
Cain Dingle (Jeff Hordley) over his attempts to destroy their
relationship and bonding with Jai's sister Priya (Fiona Wade); engaged
in a one-night stand with Pyria's friend Rachel Breckle (Gemma Oaten)
that results in her conceiving their beloved son, Archie, and his
marriage with Charity ending; kidnapping Charity after she took
revenge for his one-night stand by framing Rachel for setting fire to
Declan's house, "Home Farm", in order for her to abscond the country
with Archie so that Jai would never see his son again; reclaim his son
Archie until Rachel returns to reveal that she had him all along and
that the child Jai had was never Archie; married Declan's sister Megan
(Gaynor Faye) over their mutual animosity towards Charity; sparked an
affair with Megan's business partner Leyla Harding (Roxy Shahidi) that
results in Megan betraying Jai in his custody battle with Rachel over
Archie; repeatedly clashed with Cain's brother and Rachel's boyfriend
Sam (James Hooton); exhibited a cocaine addiction until he eventually
reconciles with Megan after she gives birth to their daughter Eliza;
befriended Cain's stepdaughter Holly Barton (Sophie Powles) about his
cocaine addiction and later feeling guilty when she later dies of an
overdose; and romanced with Holly's apparent best-friend, Neil Fairfax
(Scarlett Archer), who soon turns out to be an con-artistic drug
addict.On 21 July 2009, entertainment website Digital Spy reported
that Emmerdale would be introducing "a new trio of entrepreneurial
siblings", Jai, Nikhil and Priya Sharma as part of the soap's ongoing
reinvention. Former Coronation Street actor Chris Bisson was cast as
Jai Sharma, along with Rik Makarem and Effie Woods who were cast in
the roles of Nikhil and Priya Sharma respectively. Of his casting
Bisson commented: "Jai is a bit of a charmer and has an eye for the
ladies but he's also a hard worker with a good business mind. I'm
delighted to be joining Emmerdale at a time when the show is going
from strength to strength. I can't wait to get started." The show's
series producer Gavin Blyth said of the family: "The Sharmas are a
young, contemporary family independent of their parents and will bring
the factory into the heart of the village community. They will add
real vitality to life in Emmerdale." Bisson began filming his scenes
on 21 July.
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